(chan′əl) noun
1. The bed of a stream.
2. A wide strait: the English Channel.
3. Any groove or passage.
4. Naut. The deep part of a river, harbor, strait, or estuary, where the current or tide is strongest; especially, a navigable passage between the shoal parts.
5. That through which anything flows or passes: a news channel.
6. Telecom. a A path for the transmission of telegraph, telephone, and radio communications. b A wave band of specified frequency over which radio and television messages or programs are transmitted.
7. A flanged iron beam having a bracket-shaped section: also channel bar.
8. In motion pictures, a complete assemblage of all the necessary recording equipment.
—v.t. chan·neled or ·nelled, chan·nel·ing or ·nel·ling
1. To cut or wear channels in.
2. To convey through or as through a channel. [<OF chanel <L canalis groove. Doublet of CANAL.]

(chan′əl) noun Naut.
A flat piece of wood or iron attached to the side of a vessel, to spread the shrouds and keep them clear of the bulwarks: originally called chainwale. [Alter of chainwale <CHAIN (def. 7) + WALE (def. 2)]